Community News
Gillespie Council approves water rate surcharges
Gillespie Water Department customers will start paying an additional surcharge on their water bills as a result of action taken by the City Council on Monday night.
After a few minutes of confusion, the Council approved an ordinance calling for the addition of a $1 surcharge, increasing by $1 for the next six months and culminating in a total $12 surcharge on the base, minimum water bill. The ordinance also contains provisions to increase the bulk rate charge to satellite communities, which satellites presumably will pass on to their customers.
Initially, council members believed they were voting on the ordinance on a motion by Ald. Landon Pettit, but Pettit said he was actually moving to approve a resolution with the same identifying number as the ordinance. The council then re-voted on a motion by Ald. Dona Rauzi, seconded by Pettit to unanimously approve the ordinance.
The resolution, authorizing payment of $190 to Moran Economic Development, LLC., for administrative work completed in connection with a newly established Tax Increment Financing District, was approved earlier in the meeting. The payment will come from TIF funds generated by the district.
STREETSCAPE ENGINEER
A reluctant council narrowly approved retaining Curry and Associates Engineering, Inc., Nashville, as the coordinating engineering firm for the city’s upcoming Streetscape Development program in Downtown Gillespie. City Treasurer Dan Fisher recommended the action, after noting preliminary engineering and design work for the project have been completed. “We’re ready now for the final design and construction supervision,” he said.
Ald. Dave “Lumpy” Link asked if Fisher solicited bids for the project. Fisher replied that a solicitation for bids was advertised and Curry was the only firm to submit a formal proposal, along with required paperwork. “We did have a couple of phone calls, but no one else submitted a proposal,” Fisher said.
On a motion by Ald. Frank Barrett, seconded by Rauzi, the council split 3-3 on approving Curry for the project, forcing Mayor John Hicks to cast the deciding vote.
“I’m going to vote yes to get this project going,” Hicks announced. “We’ve been on this for three years.”
Ald. Rauzi commented that several downtown businesses had asked her to be notified when Streetscape work is planned in front of their business places. Some complained that when sewer improvements were done earlier in preparation for the Streetscape project, many stores were blindsided when work commenced in front of their business places. “They’d just like to have some notice when work is being done,” she said.
Later in the meeting, Ald. Pettit expanded upon his objection to hiring Curry and Associates, when the discussion turned to approving the city’s annual Motor Fuel Tax Resolution. Ultimately, the council approved the $525,000 resolution but not before Ald. Bob Fritz and Ald. Pettit voiced concerns about the document, which was prepared by the Curry engineering firm.
Essentially an appropriation document, the resolution establishes maximum expenditures for the city’s annual street maintenance program. The appropriation, however, is based on estimates determined by the engineer.
Fritz noted the resolution authorizes purchase of 500 tons of blacktop at $48 per ton.
“I don’t know where you can get blacktop for $48 a ton,” Fritz said. “It’s more like $100 a ton. There were five or six streets we didn’t get to do last year because we were short of oil. I don’t want to be limited because we can only buy 150 tons of blacktop.”
Fritz also pointed to a street that Curry estimated to be 17 feet wide, when the street actually is more than 20 feet wide, which will require more material to resurface.
Fisher said the council could table the resolution to five aldermen time to review the document and markup any deficiencies they find.
“I think that would be a good idea,” said Fisher. He said the total of Curry’s estimates come to $490,000, which the resolution sets the appropriation at $525,000—a cushion of $35,000. “You can make adjustments to that amount. You can make this for $600,000 if you want. You can also do a supplemental resolution later if it appears we are going to need more money.”
Pettit commented that Curry’s work on issues like the Motor Fuel Tax Resolution was part of the reason he voted against hiring the firm for the Streetscape Project.
“How can you be an engineer and not know that asphalt is not $48 a ton?” he asked. “It’s over $90 a ton. There’s no reason for them not to know a street is not 17 feet wide. We have Google Maps. There’s no excuse for it. It’s shoddy work.” He suggested switching to a different engineering firm.
“I wouldn’t recommend switching horses in the middle of the stream,” Fisher said, reiterating his position that a supplemental resolution can be approved at a later date.
Ultimately, the council unanimously approved Ald. Link’s motion, seconded by Ald. Pettit, to approve the resolution as presented, with an eye toward approving a supplemental resolution later, if needed. The approved resolution will now be filed with the Illinois Department of Transportation which administers motor fuel tax distributions to municipalities.
CORNERSTONE TL RENTALS DISPLACEMENT
The council agreed to extend the variance for Tim Loveless to operate offices for Cornerstone TL Rentals in a residential area until at least the end of February, despite objections from one vocal Park Avenue resident. Loveless’s office at 210 Springfield Road was heavily damaged by fire last fall, after which he moved the office to a residence he owns on Park Avenue, pending repairs to the Springfield Road property. He originally pledged to be out of the Park Avenue location by Jan. 1, but faced delays in getting materials for the damaged building.
In the meantime, Loveless told the council Monday night, he entered into negotiations to purchase the former Drew Ford garage to house his business offices and equipment. A closing date for the purchase is set for Jan. 12, he said. The former business location on Springfield Road has a new roof, but still needs extensive renovation inside. Assuming he is able to move the location of his business, Loveless said he would either rent or sell the Springfield Road facility, once the interior is complete.
“What you’re asking is for the council to not take action while you get into the new building,” City Attorney Rick Verticchio summarized. “I think they will agree to that. It’s in the best interest of the city, and your neighbors on Park Avenue and Springfield Road, to have your business in the business district.What the council wants to know is whether you have a firm contract to buy the building and when you intend to move into town.”
Loveless said the contract is firm, adding he would need about a month and a half to make the move.
Responding to a question from Ald. Pettit, Loveless declined to confirm the number of rental residences he owns in the City of Gillespie.
“What I’m getting at is it would cause a major problem if your business was disrupted,” Pettit said.
Loveless agreed, saying he paid $47,500 in property taxes last year.
Park Avenue resident Stacey Hart again objected to extending Loveless’s conditional variance.
“It’s a residential area,” she said. “I was told he would be out by the first. He doesn’t need to be there.” She said she and other residents have been inconvenienced by additional traffic and vehicles occasional blocking the street.
Ald. Rauzi, however, who represents the ward that includes Park Avenue said she has heard no other complaints from neighbors. The only objection she’s heard, she said, was from Hart during meetings of the council.
Later in the meeting, the council unanimously agreed to extend the conditional variance for Loveless, tentatively to the end of February, to allow time for him to move the business to the downtown area.
The council took no action, however, from a request from Brad Bunn to pay a $400 excavation bill he incurred to address a sewer issue. Burn said he hired Ranger Excavating after the sewer backed up into his basement, but the problem was later found to be a blockage in the main sewer. He said city crews made three attempts with a water jet to move the blockage.
Fisher recommended referring the issue to the Water and Sewer Committee.
“In the past, we haven’t paid anything,” Fisher said. “If he’s due a reimbursement and it’s against policy, the policy may have to be rescinded.”
PROPERTY SALE
With Ald. Link abstaining, the council agreed to sell a city-owned parcel of vacant land behind Besserman’s Super Bowl and adjacent medical offices between Montani Avenue and Tower Road to Link for $5,049.50. Link submitted the higher of two bids for the property. Weye Schmidt, the unsuccessful bidder, offered $3,767 for the surplus property.
In a related matter, the council voted unanimously to declare as surplus and offer for sale a residence located at 503 West Chestnut Street. City Attorney Rick Verticchio said the court awarded the property to the city as a result of a public nuisance proceeding, and an individual had contacted the city to say he was interested in acquiring the residence in order to rehabilitate it.
“I told this individual the property would have to be declared excess property, and he would have to bid on it,” Verticchio said.
Acting on Verticchio’s advice, the council voted to declare the property as excess, and to advertise it for sale via sealed bids.
POLICE REPORTS
While no action was taken, several minutes of discussion were devoted to the issue of police enforcement at various intervals throughout the meeting.
Ald. Pettit urged the council to “take a look” at the city’s ordinance regarding campers within the city limits.
“We have people living in campers in town,” he said. “It seems to be a problem and it’s getting worse.”
City ordinance prohibits persons from using campers as a residence. According to Pettit, some of the campers are hooked up to propane but the offenders claim that is just to keep the camper warm and prevent pipes from freezing.
“This problem is universal,” Verticchio said. “The problem is getting neighbors to testify.” If police issue a citation and it goes to court, the court will dismiss if no witnesses appear to testify. If the defendant testifies they aren’t living in the camper, the court has no choice but to dismiss the complaint. He agreed, however, to revisit the ordinance to require off-street parking for campers, and to include a variance for temporary housing in the event of a fire or other disaster.
Both Pettit and Ald. Link complained about lack of enforcement regarding parking violations. Link claimed a vehicle with a flat tire has been blocking one lane of traffic in the 300 block of West Spruce Street for two months. Fritz alleged vehicles on South Macoupin Street are parked facing the wrong direction.
Police Chief Jared DePoppe said patrolmen will issue citations if aldermen report the violations to him. Otherwise, they do not issue citations for violations they see because of time constraints.
Link asked DePoppe how many officers are on patrol at any one time.
“There’s always two on patrol,” DePoppe said. “When we are fully staffed, there are three.” He said one of the two officers patrol the south half of the city and Benld, while the other patrols the north side and East Gillespie.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the council:
- Voted to pay the $190 registration fee, plus meals and lodging, for Water Plant Operator Dave Pickett to attend an Illinois Rural Water Association Conference next month.
- Agreed to raise wages by $1 per hour for non-union employees, including part-time and seasonal workers, to match raises given to union employees as a result of collective bargaining.
- Took under advisement a proposed ordinance to set the cost of connecting to a new city water line at Gillespie Lake. Action on the ordinance is expected next month.
- No action followed a 20-minute executive session to discuss legal issues and real estate.
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Ye Olde Christmas is the theme of the Macoupin County Historical Society’s annual Christmas Show, which will be held Friday through Sunday, December 5–7, at the John C. Anderson Home and Museum, 920 West Breckenridge in Carlinville.
“The Christmas Show is one of the most magical times to visit the Anderson Home,” said MCHS Board Member and House Manager Brandy England. “Some families make it an annual Christmas tradition to visit the Anderson Home when it is decorated for Christmas. It’s a great opportunity to get into the Christmas spirit and pick up some ideas for decorating your own home for the holidays.”
MCHS member Kendra Mize, of Bunker Hill, who has coordinated the decorating effort for more than two decades, has again marshalled a small army of volunteers to decorate all 13 rooms of the home. Each room features a themed Christmas tree, along with mantle pieces, centerpieces, tabletop decor, garlands and florals, and other special touches.
The home will be open for self-guided tours from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, December 5; from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, December 6; and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 7.
“We’re very excited to offer for the first time candlelight tours from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday,” said Shawna Ashby, who serves as a co-manager with England. “Viewing the decorated home by candlelight promises to be a magical experience.”
The final candlelight tours on Friday and Saturday start at 7:30 p.m. Admission to the home is five dollars for adults and one dollar for children ages five to 12, with four-year-olds and younger admitted free of charge.
The Anderson Home Gift Shop will be open during tour hours, offering one-of-a-kind gift items and stocking stuffers. Santa Claus will be on hand in the downstairs parlor to greet children and listen to their Christmas wishes from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 6.
While the decorated home is the centerpiece of the Christmas Show, several other features on the Historical Society’s grounds will be open. The Red Barn will be open and serving hearty beef stew, chili, homemade pies, and warming holiday beverages such as wassail and hot chocolate on Friday and Saturday.
The General Store and Print Shop will be decorated and open to the public, with the Print Shop offering its popular handmade Christmas cards and other items produced in the shop; kids can print their own blank “Santa List” to keep track of their Christmas wishes.
“The General Store offers unique gift items, including some small antiques, for shoppers to peruse,” England noted.
Local blacksmiths will demonstrate their craft in the MCHS Blacksmith Shop located on the north side of the Historical Society Grounds, with wrought iron gift items, including stocking hooks and decorative pieces, available for purchase.
The Macoupin County Historical Society’s Christmas Show runs concurrently with the Carlinville Christmas Market and Downtown Christmas events, and a free trolley and shuttle buses include the Anderson Home as a regular stop during the festivals, enabling visitors to ride from the square or the Macoupin County Fairgrounds to the Historical Society grounds.
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Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night voted to approve a property tax levy request totaling $3,920,295 for 2025 property taxes payable in 2026. Because of tax caps and other factors, however, the district expects to collect only an estimated $3,786,607 of the requested amount.
In addition to acting on the tax levy, the board also held a lengthy discussion regarding annual district “report cards” issued by the Illinois State Board of Education to assess school performance from last year, approved a high school band/choir performance trip to Chicago in March, and agreed to apply for a school maintenance grant of up to $50,000 in matching funds.
The new proposed levy exceeds last year’s tax extension of $3,599,569 by more than $320,726—an increase of about nine percent if the levy were to be approved at the county level. The more realistic anticipation of $3,786,607 exceeds last year’s extension by $187,038, or an increase of about three percent. A Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL), approved by Macoupin County voters in 1995, restricts increases in the levy to five percent or the federal Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less. This year’s CPI is estimated at 2.9 percent.
The approved levy seeks $1,650,000 for the Education Fund while expecting to realize $1,653,831; $450,229 for Operations & Maintenance, while anticipating $438,041; $200,000 for Transportation while expecting $180,434; $35,000 for Working Cash while expecting $42,602; $174,700 for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund while anticipating $117,788; $154,101 for Social Security while expecting $105, 248; $247,264 for Tort while anticipating $240,570; and $33,501 for Special Education while expecting $32,593. For Bond and Interest, which is not subject to PTELL, the district is levying $975,500 while anticipating the same amount.
Local property tax revenue accounts for about 20 percent of the district’s overall annual budget.
Because the levy request exceeds 105 percent of the previous year’s extension, a public hearing is required. That hearing is scheduled at the start of the board’s regular December meeting at 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 15. In the meantime, the proposed levy is available for public inspection on the district’s website and in the district office.
Using a PowerPoint presentation, Owsley emphasized the levy request is essentially a wish list for what the district would like to raise through property taxes.
“The levy is the ‘Christmas list’ I talk about every year,” Owsley said. “If you don’t put it on the list, you’re not going to get it.”
Projecting what the district can legally seek under tax caps can be challenging because the district’s total equalized assessed valuation will not be confirmed until after Jan. 1 while state law requires the district to file its levy request before the end of December. For that reason, local school districts routinely file requests that exceed what they actually expect to receive in property tax revenue, and rely on the County Clerk to adjust the request to the maximum amount the district can receive.
“Because of tax caps, we have one shot to capture increases in the EAV and new construction,” Owsley said. “If we don’t do that, we lose it in perpetuity.”
To calculate the new levy, Owsley projected a 15.12 percent increase in the EAV—nearly double the previous year’s rate of increase. By overestimating the EAV growth, the district expects to capture the entire increase in assessed valuation when that number is finally determined.
“Even though we know the EAV will likely be around the historical average, we base our levy on a much higher amount so as not to lose revenue from new growth,” Owsley told the board. “We can do this without running the risk of overtaxing taxpayers because the district will receive no more than what we are entitled to by law.”
Owsley said relatively stable increases in EAV have resulted in a steadily declining tax rate. Since 2014 when the rate was $4.24 per $100 in EAV, the rate has fallen to $3.20 for 2024. In other words, the county can use a lower rate to generate the extension to which the district is entitled because the value of taxable property has increased.
“As long as the EAV goes up by more than the Consumer Price Index, our tax rates are going to go down,” Owsley noted.
SCHOOL DISTRICT REPORT CARDS
The board spent several minutes discussing recently released school report cards issued by the Illinois State Board of Education. Interested persons can view local report cards by visiting https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.
All three attendance centers received a “Commendable” designation, meaning there are no student groups that are underperforming academically, and the high school graduation rate exceeds 67 percent. Last year, BenGil Elementary School achieved an “Exemplary” designation—the top designation a school can achieve.
Elementary Principal Angela Sandretto said administrators knew the school would not earn an Exemplary rating, even though students are state average in English/language arts, math and science. The Report Card designations are based on growth rather than academic performance. With students already exceeding state standards last year, the opportunity for growth was limited.
Assistant Principal Tara Cooper agreed, noting BenGil Elementary’s student performance is in the upper half of schools statewide that are meeting academic standards. “So, while we are not ‘Exemplary,’ we’re very happy with where we are.”
Supt. Owsley told the board the State Board of Education is working on revamping the assessment system because of the growth vs. performance issue. “That’s why they’re redoing all of this because they are penalizing schools for meeting goals,” he said.
For Gillespie Middle School, the report card shows students meeting or exceeding state averages in math and science but significantly lagging in English/language arts.
“ELA is our most concerning area,” Principal Patrick McGinthy told the board, “along with absenteeism.” The report card shows a chronic absenteeism rate of 25 percent, but Owsley and other administrators said the rate is exacerbated by the State Board of Education including nearly all absences whether or not they are excused.
Rosentreter noted the State Board will allow a student to be absent five days for illness without a doctor’s excuse. On the sixth day, however, the absence is unexcused unless the parent or guardian provides a doctor’s slip. Many parents, however, are reluctant to pay for a doctor’s visit for a child that is suffering from a minor illness.
McGinthy said Middle School teachers are attempting to address the deficiency in English/language arts by increasing writing exercises and requiring students to write in conjunction with other curriculum areas.
Rosentreter noted that the assessment standards for high schools differ from the standards for elementary and middle schools in that the State Board emphasizes graduation rates. For Gillespie, the graduation rate is an impressive 86 percent, though chronic absenteeism checks in at 31 percent.
“Math is definitely our shining star,” Rosentreter said, noting the school scored 17.8 points compared with the state average of 18. The school performed less well in the areas of English/language arts and science, scoring 16 points on ELA compared with the state score of 18 and 17.2 points compared with the state average of 19.
The report cards are based on results for the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) test for elementary and middle school students, and ACT scores for high school students.
Administrators said it’s difficult to motivate students to do well on state-mandated tests since the tests do not affect the student’s grade point average. To incentivize testing, Rosentreter said the high school is offering to let students skip final exams if they hit state standards on the mandated tests.
Owsley noted that the district report card documents the continuing decline in school enrollment—dropping from 1,325 seven years ago to 1,082 for the 2024-25 academic year.
“We don’t see that turning around anytime soon,” Owsley said. “It’s not just a Gillespie thing; it’s a trend for schools throughout Macoupin County.
BAND/CHOIR TRIP TO CHICAGO
Following a presentation by band/choir instructor Brad Taulbee, the board approved a high school band and choir performance tour to Chicago set for March 19-21. Taulbee said the tour company retained for the trip places emphasis on security and safety for traveling students. The company supplements hotel security with its own security personnel to monitor student rooms during the trip.
The tour includes workshop sessions at Vandercook College in downtown Chicago, and performances by the choir at the John Hancock Center and by the band at one of the city’s museums.
Taulbee said he is attempting to keep the cost affordable for participating students. Depending upon the number of students who ultimately go on the trip, he said he expects the cost to be about $739 per person. Additionally, he is lining up sponsors who can help with expenses for students who could not otherwise afford to participate.
“Security is my main concern,” said Board President Mark Hayes. “We just came back from there and seven people were shot in the area we were in.”
Taulbee said he expects to recruit seven to 10 chaperones and will ensure that the ratio of students to chaperones does not exceed 1:10.
SCHOOL MAINTENANCE GRANT
The board concurred with Supt. Owsley’s recommendation to again apply for a state School Maintenance grant of up to $50,000. The grant is a “matching” grant requiring the district to match grant funds dollar for dollar. The district has successfully applied for the grant for the past several years.
If the application is successful, Owsley said the funds will likely be used to remove asbestos-containing floor tiles in the choir room and elsewhere in the Middle School.
PERSONNEL
Following an executive session of about 40 minutes to discuss personnel and other issues, the board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Tim Wargo as an assistant high school baseball coach and post the position as vacant, and voted to appoint Wargo as the head high school baseball coach for the coming season.
In separate actions, the board approved maternity leaves for Alexis Lupkey, district paraprofessional, and Gear-Up Coordinator Jordan Bartok. Lupkey’s leave is tentatively scheduled from Dec. 8 through March 18. Bartok’s leave is expected from Dec. 12 through Jan.6.
Board members voted unanimously to hire Christopher Whaley as a substitute bus driver, pending a routine background check and documentation of certification.
The board also voted unanimously to terminate Makayla Huff as a three-hour cook and post the position as vacant.
On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Weye Schmidt, the board voted unanimously to rehire fall coaches as follows: Jordan Bartok as head high school girls volleyball coach with Shelsie Price, as an assistant coach; Cory Bonstead as head football coach with Nate Henrichs, Jarrod Herron, Korben Clark, Alex Jasper, J.O. Kelly, Billy Gill and Florian Seferi as assistant and volunteer assistant coaches; Jay Weber as head coach for the parent-funded high school cross-country program with Jack Burns as a volunteer assistant coach; Jake Kellebrew as head coach for the parent-funded high school golf program, with Michael Otten as a volunteer assistant coach; Tim Wargo as head middle school baseball coach with Trae Wargo as assistant coach; Michelle Smith as head middle school softball coach with Jim Matesa, Joe Kelly and Melissa Heigert as assistant coaches; and Liz Thackery as head coach for the parent-funded middle school cross-country program with Laura Peterson as a volunteer assistant coach.
DISTRICT FOCUS
During a District Focus segment, Supt. Owsley introduced newly hired School Resource Officer Jacob Linhart, and High School Principal provided a report with photos of a recent school-wide Veterans Day observance.
Linhart, who has served five years as a police officer on the Gillespie Police Department, replaces Wade Hendricks, who recently retired after serving three years as the CUSD 7 School Resource Officer.
Linhart said it is a “great privilege” to serve as a Resource Officer, protecting students and staff. “I’m honored that you guys are allowing me to do it,” he said.
High School Principal Rosentreter said the school served breakfast to about 200 veterans and their families Tuesday morning, Nov. 11. Later, the veterans were joined by nearly 700 high school and middle school students for a recognition ceremony in the high school gymnasium.
Since the event coincided with the 25th anniversary of CUSD 7’s Wall of Honor program, the annual event did double duty as an induction ceremony for five are individuals, all of whom happened to be U.S. Military veterans.
The inductees included the late Sergeant Major John Marion Malnar, Command Sergeant Major John “Jack” Burns, Colonel Mark Daley, Lieutenant Colonel William P. Falke and Captain Robert Leone. Rosentreter said Daley and Leone traveled with their families from Colorado and Texas, respectively, to attend the ceremonies.
Burns, a retired CUSD 7 teacher, later visited BenGil Elementary School to present a program and teach students how to properly fold an American flag.
Rosentreter recognized the City of Gillespie for a donation of $1,000 to help purchase food for the veterans.
Born in Benld and a resident of Sawyerville, “Big John” Malnar earned a Silver Star during the Korean Conflict and a Gold Star, awarded posthumously after he was killed in action in 1968 in Vietnam. A Marine training center at Camp Geiger in North Carolina is named in his honor.
Though not a Wall of Honor inductee, Jacob Miller, a 100-year-old World War II veteran and recipient of two Purple Hearts, was recognized with a standing ovation.
The annual Veterans Day breakfast and ceremony provides students with an opportunity to meet and recognize local veterans as potential role models for their own futures.
Owsley said the event is a major event on the district’s calendar which grew out of a simple flagpole ceremony initiated 25 years ago.
CEJA GRANT FUNDS
Board members briefly discussed plans for about $74,000 in anticipated Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) grant funds. The federal program is intended to compensate communities that have experienced revenue loss as a result of coal mine closures.
Owsley said the district committed about $86,000 in last year’s CEJA grant funds to the City of Gillespie to help pay for improvements to Plum Street, which is heavily used by district school buses. He has not transferred those funds, however, pending the start of the project.
Owsley said he was seeking the board’s input on how the money should be used.
“We could continue to partner with the city on Plum Street,” he said. “But there are plenty of project areas within the school.” The money could be used, for example, for continuing asbestos abatement. He identified other upcoming needs, including a new roof for the high school/middle school and an HVAC project.
President Hayes pointed out the school district paid for improvements to Kelly Street when BenGil Elementary was built and subsidized a project to reconfigure drainage on Broadway Street, in addition to the dollars committed for Plum Street.
“The school district is not in the business of building roads,” he said. “I think we’ve been more than generous with the city.”
Board member Peyton Bernot agreed the money should be committed for use by the school district.
TRIPLE I CONFERENCE
Several board members who attended a conference for board members and administrators Friday-Saturday, Nov. 21-23, in Chicago, commented briefly about their take-aways from conference sessions. Popularly known as the Triple I Conference, the convention is sponsored by the Illinois Association of School Boards, Illinois Association of School Administrators and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials.
Owsley said more than 700 Illinois school districts were represented, making the Triple I the largest gathering of education professionals in North America.
Bernot briefly reported on a session he attended regarding upcoming legislation and financial outlooks for school districts. He described the session as “much less optimistic” than sessions he’s attended in the past.
Owsley was among the convention presenters, discussing social-emotional learning. He commented that several districts attending reported efforts to involve students in school administrators. Some districts, he said, appointed a non-voting student representative to the school board to take part in discussions directly affecting students.
“When you think about it, we hear from faculty members and we hear from parents,” Hayes commented. “The people we don’t hear from are the most important part of what we do.”
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The Holiday Sparkle Committee of Gillespie is preparing for the 4th Annual Holiday Sparkle Lighted Parade and Community Tree Lighting, set for Sunday, November 30, at 6:00 p.m. in downtown Gillespie. This beloved community tradition invites residents and visitors to kick off the holiday season with lights, music, and festive cheer.
Food trucks will line the parade route starting at 4:00 p.m., offering a variety of tasty options for families to enjoy before and during the celebration. The event will culminate in the illuminated parade and the ceremonial lighting of the community tree, signaling the official start of the season’s celebrations.
A highlight of this year’s festivities will be a special performance by Gillespie area students in grades 3 through 5. The group will join together to sing Christmas carols, lending their voices to the town’s joyous welcome to the holidays.
Parade participants are invited to bring extra sparkle to the evening—whether by entering a parade float, walking in the parade, or simply attending to enjoy the atmosphere. Participation helps make the event truly magical for the entire community. The only requirement for the parade is all entries have to incorporate holiday lighting.
To join the parade lineup, interested participants can sign up at https://forms.gle/L7Q4tEkgjj8Lt5E47. The Holiday Sparkle Committee expresses gratitude for the ongoing support of residents, businesses, and volunteers who help bring this festive occasion to life each year.
The second part of the holiday festivities will take place on Saturday, December 13 when the Sparkle will sponsor the vendor fair and food trucks in downtown Gillespie including a visit from Santa. Vendors will be located in the Gillespie Civic Center, Zion Lutheran Church, and Emma G’s Upscale Boutique while local businesses and eateries will also be open. An egg nog jog benefitting Gillespie Cross Country will also be held on December 13 and interested participants can join here.
The Holiday Sparkle Committee invites everyone to mark their calendars and join in the celebration. For more information, please contact the committee by email at gillespieholidaysparkle@gmail.com or visit Gillespie Holiday Sparkle on Facebook.
